Monday, April 12, 2010

Welcome, Patricia Sargeant!!

Please help me welcome Patricia Sargeant! Patricia will be popping in and out today to visit with us and answer your questions - so put your thinking caps on and let's have them! I've posed a few questions to Patricia to kick things off - here's our conversation:

I appreciate you taking time to guest here today, Patricia! The pleasure is mine, Laurie. Thank you so much for inviting me to spend time with you and your community.Can you share a little about yourself with the readers here?I'd love to. I was raised in Brooklyn, New York. My husband and I live in Columbus, Ohio, now. Although I enjoy living in Columbus, I'll always consider Brooklyn home. Brooklyn's in the house!!! :)I have three siblings who are all voracious readers. We're very close. In addition to reading, I love watching movies, jogging and pasteries. And ice cream. And Diet Mountain Dew. That's it. For now.You now have four books and two anthologies available to your readers, is there any one that is your favorite? Any characters that become close to your heart while creating their story?Oh, those are fabulous questions. Truly, all of my titles are favorites for different reasons and in different ways. I connect with the themes I explore. That's what connects me to the stories and the characters while I'm writing and after the stories are released. I think the themes I've addressed are ones with which everyone can identify.The theme for You Belong to Me is family; how do you define family? Is your family a close knit group of people related by blood or marriage? Or do you cast the net a little wider to include friends? Or do you cast it even wider than that? On Fire's theme is trust. I don't think you can have love without trust. Sweet Deception's theme is identity. Do you define yourself or do you allow other people to define you? And Heated Rivalry's theme is self-worth. Do you know your self-worth?Regarding characters, I love them all, even the ones who need to be smacked, like Harold, Ronald's brother in Sweet Deception. And Traci, Steven's problematic ex-fiancee in Heated Rivalry. They're not really bad; they're just troubled.Can you tell us about what you're working on now?I'd love to. Thank you for asking. I'm working on a contemporary romance trilogy featuring a fictitious National Basketball Association team. The first book, Fast Break, is scheduled for release in 2011. The theme is winning. I think to be a winner, you have to be willing to risk losing. With this trilogy, I'll introduce my contemporary romance pseudonym, Regina Hart.Your characters have had a multitude of professions. How much research goes into each book? Do you enjoy that part of putting a book together?I do quite a bit of research for my books. As you noted, most of the research is on the characters' professions and the location in which I'm setting their story. I do enjoy it - to a point. Let's not get carried away. :) The research supports the world building. For characters to be three-dimensional, readers need to understand them personally and professionally. They also need to be able to "see" them in their environment.Some people don't think research is important for fiction. I vehemently disagree. Fiction must be based in fact to encourage readers to spend time in your world. For example, in On Fire, Sharon decorated her apartment with used furniture. Newspaper reporters don't make a lot of money. Trust me. I was a newspaper reporter. It would not have been realistic to put her in a swanky condo.Are there any particular professions that fascinate you or that you may be considering for future characters?Laurie, can you read my mind? LOL! Last week, I was talking with a psychology professor about the sports psychology field. I'm considering creating a sports psychologist character for a future book.You work outside the home, a very busy woman! How do you find the time to write such well-rounded stories? I think I would find myself jotting notes all day for ideas I didn't want to forget (thank heavens for Post-it notes!).Oh, Laurie! You and I are of the same mind. I used to use Post-It Notes. I recently got this cool cell phone with a Memo application. It's fabulous.Thank you very much for your kind words about my stories, Laurie. I really appreciate them. Frankly, while on deadline, I don't get much sleep. I often stay up late to try to make my daily page counts. But it truly is a labor of love. I love my characters. I love spending time with them. I love helping them to grow and gain the courage to face their problems. It's very gratifying.I know some authors use storyboards or 3x5 cards, notebooks, etc. to keep track of the layering in their books, can you share your method of keeping all of those details straight?I've tried the index card method. I found it very helpful. But I'm most comfortable with a basic scene-by-scene, chapter outline. When I sit down to write, I open my manuscript outline file and review the scene I'm working on that night. My description includes the scene's date, time, location, characters in the scene, and each character's goal, motivation and conflict.Are family and friends supportive of your writing?My family and friends are very supportive of my writing. Their support and encouragement was crucial to my first publishing contract and is crucial to my motivation. They believe in me, encourage me and cheer me on. I'm very fortunate.

Laurie, thank you again for inviting me to spend time with you and your friends. I've had a great time.Happy reading everyone!

Patricia is graciously offering a copy of TAILS OF LOVE to one lucky reader here - thanks, Patricia! To be entered in the draw, simply leave a comment, or even better, a question for Patricia! Good luck!

37 comments:

No kidding, Patricia is busy! On top of all that, she does the promo for the annual "Reader and Author Get Together.' She's one of the nicest, most generous people I've ever met and I like her oodles. Patricia, your new series sounds fantastic! Didn't you tell me you were a big basketball fan yourself? Or was that football? Some sport. LOL

Thanks to Lori and both Barbs for stopping! We're off to a slow start but I'm hoping things will pick up when readers get off work this afternoon/evening. There's the possibility of spring break trips keeping people away too - in that case I'm super jealous!

Laurie, great interview! "Heated Rivalry" is just great! I really loved the heat between Val and Steve and the development of the dynamic at the ad agency.Patricia, thanks for the advice about a manuscript notebook. I tried a storyboard but outgrew it during revisions. I am going to use the notebook idea to finish the additions I am making to my manuscript. You are so supportive of all of novice authors. Love that!P.S. I, too, already have a copy of "Tails of Love".

Lori, hi!!! Thanks tons for stopping by to chat. I'm super excited and over the moon about attending the June Get Together. Doing a bit of the promo helps me channel my excitement. LOL!

You also have a great memory! I love both football and basketball. You and I were chatting about the fact that a Whole 'Nuther Side of Patricia is revealed during the games. LOL! I've fondly nicknamed her Pottymouth Patricia. LOL!

I agree 1,000 percent that Laurie offered outstanding interview questions. They were interesting and challenging. I loved them.

Barbara, thank you very much for your interest in Heated Rivalry. I'm very sorry and truly disappointed to learn you're having trouble finding it. Sadly, this is a problem I've had with all of my releases. I won't go into the long tale of woe (Laurie won't invite me back.), but I do appreciate very much - more than I can say, actually - your asking your bookstore to order it for you. Hopefully, your request will make it easier for other people to get a copy of Heated Rivalry. I hope you find the story worth the trouble. :)

Regarding my request for Heated Rivalry Sightings, one person told me Heated Rivalry wasn't in her bookstore. I checked four stores - one Borders and three Barnes & Nobles. No luck. I'm hoping this just means the book hasn't been unpacked yet. That's happened to me before. I'll check again this week.

Thank you also for your kind words regarding my demeanor on the Scamps, Vamps and Spicy Romance loop. It's so easy to be pleasant with our group. Everyone is so friendly and supportive and hilarious! I love sharing the chuckles - and the occasional groans :) - with our community. The warmth and friendship is a treasure.

It's so funny that you mention that Laurie asked questions you didn't even realize you wanted answers to. I was wowed by Laurie's questions. Very insightful. She's a skillful interviewer.

Wow! Thank you so much for stopping by. How are you? What are you working on now?

Thank you so much for your kind words regarding Heated Rivalry. I'm so glad - and hugely relieved :) - that you enjoyed it.

It's so interesting you mentioned that at one time you did storyboards for your works in progress. I think different methods of outlining work for us at different points of our careers and perhaps even for different projects. Laurie had asked me about the notecard method. I did use notecards once and I thought it worked great. But I went back to my standard outline method for Fast Break. That's what I was most comfortable with this time. I think we just have to keep in tune with our comfort level.

Patricia, I'm hopeful that readers everywhere will keep asking their booksellers to stock your books. It must be incredibly frustrating that your books aren't being made available to readers - feel free to vent all you like!

I remember conversations on the Scamps loop back in the fall between you and Janice Maynard that made me realize what a huge sports fan you are! I remember joking that I saw sides of each of you that I would have argued didn't exist before that! How wonderful to be so passionate!

Lisa F., how are you? It's so nice of you to stop by to chat. Thank you!

I was wondering whether it was my imagination or whether books by some of my favorite authors are getting harder to find at the brickand mortar stores. Last year, I had to request my local store order four books for me - and these were by bestsellers.

I'm running a bit late for work this morning. {{blushing}} I'll check back during my lunch break to respond to your great comments. Thank you so much for spending time with me. I really enjoy your conversation.

Hi Patricia! Sorry for stopping in late. I just got word you were here this morning. (digests always leaving me catching up. LOL) Loved the interview and the new series sounds like a lot of fun. Can't wait to read it!!!Hugs!~Paige :)

Barb S, you always come up with the most excellent questions! I struggled to come up with the few I did - Barbara Walters has nothing on you, my dear!

Robin, Robyn and Paige, thank you for stopping by! Patricia has been the most wonderful guest, she's definitely one of the sweetest women I've ever met. Unless, apparently, you get between her and her favorite teams!

Patricia will be naming a couple of winners later today, so be sure to check back!

Barbara asked: Where do you get your story ideas from?One of the reasons your question is considered an age-old question is because it's such a good one. Thank you for asking. I get my story ideas from my characters. The ideas always seem to come from an issue with which one of the characters is struggling. With Heated Rivalry, Valerie questioned her self worth, and Steven wrestled with the consequences of always wanting to be liked. In Sweet Deception, both Joan and Ronald struggled with their identity within their families. On Fire's Matthew no longer trusted people. In You Belong to Me, Nicole and Malcolm wanted a second chance with each other.

Barbara asked: You mentioned above that your alter ego will write contemporary books. I consider these contemporary so how will they differ in story line from what you currently write?Another good question. Sweet Deception and Heated Rivalry are contemporary romances. I love writing contemporary romances, but I also want to continue writing romantic suspense. I'd prefer to write romantic suspense as Patricia Sargeant, but will continue writing contemporary romances as Regina Hart.

Barbara asked: Do you ever see yourself writing something other than romance? No. I've thought about this from time to time. Short story long, :) for me, the character is the story. For the story to be engaging, the character's motivation must be compelling. I can't think of a more compelling motivation than love. So, if I ever publish that mystery series or that thriller, it will still be at the core a love story.Barbara, in what other genres do you read and/or write?

Barbara asked: What are you currently reading?Who Wrote the Bible? I'm on deadline with Fast Break right now. When I'm on deadline, I limit my reading time, and I prefer to read nonfiction.Barbara, what's on your nightstand right now?

Barbara asked: What book or author would you say is your favorite "comfort read" and why?Oooh. This is such a hard question. For today, my answer would be Jayne Ann Krentz. Her dialogue is quick and witty. And there are so many scenes that make me sigh with happiness. One of my all-time favorite Jayne Ann Krentz books is Smoke and Mirrors. Have you read it? If not, get thee to a book store or library, my friend. :)Who's your favorite comfort author or which title is your favorite comfort read?

Barbara wrote: Thanks for spending time with us today.Thank *you* for spending time with me, Barbara. It's been great fun. I look forward to catching up with you in person in June.

It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you very much for stopping by and posting a comment. If you would please contact me at BooksByPatricia@yahoo.com with your mailing address, I would love to send you a copy of Tails of Love.

Thank you for visiting with us. I'm afraid my list of favorite authors grows daily. LOL! But I'll always remember the book that made me want to become a published author. It's Black Hearts in Battersea by Jane Aiken. I read it when I was nine years old.

Laurie, thank you so much for inviting me over. I've had a lovely, lovely, lovely time.

My friends, you've given me such a wonderful experience which I'll always treasure. I've felt so welcomed here. Thank you so much. Hugs all around.

Robin L, I'd love to send you the copy of Tails of Love, if you're interested, please contact me at BooksByPatricia@yahoo.com and provide me with your mailing address. Thanks again for stopping by.

Barbara S., you mentioned you'd read Tails of Love. I'd love to send you a copy of Sweet Deception. If you're interested, could you please e-mail me at BooksByPatricia@yahoo.com with your mailing address?

Patricia's first question was what genre's do I like to read? I read a broad range of genre's. My favorite romance subgenre's are Romantic Suspense, Paranormal and I am a recent fan of Urban Fantasy. I also read the occasional mystery and main stream novel. Love James Patterson in that vein. His books are always quick reads for me because of the way he writes those short chapters.

Patricia asked What's on My Nightstand? I just finished Jules Bennett's latest Desire release For Business.....Or Marriage. LOVED IT!!!! I am currently reading something called Touched By An Alien by a new to me author Gini Koch. Hope I got that name right. PIcked up this book on a fluke but am loving it as well. It's billed as science fiction but definatly has romance in the mix and I think it may be the start of a series. I love finding new authors out of the blue like this.

Patricia's last question was what are my favorite comfort authors or books? I love to reread the "In Death" books by JD Robb. This is probably my all time favorite series. Love how after 30 plus books she still seams to keep the series fresh and new. Then there is the Roarke factor....need I say more? Other books that come to mind are the classic Mackenzie books by Linda Howard. Love those and have read them many times.

Thanks for the conversation Patricia. Hope you had a good day today...mine was very hectic. I think I need an adult beverage to unwind.

About Me

I've been married for 34 years (yes, Hub robbed the cradle), have two beautiful daughters, 23 and 28. We have a basset hound, Simon, and three cats, Sophie, Tony and Penny. I work full-time as a legal assistant. I enjoy reading, baking and walking. I write book reviews for the online review site, Romance Junkies.

PLEASE NOTE . . .

It is the responsibility of anyone who enters a contest on my blog to stop back and find out if they're a winner. I will not attempt to track you down. If I don't hear from a winner within the number of days specified when the winner is announced, I will draw a new name.